leaycraft



(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. S. LEAYORAPT.

PNEUMATIC DISPATCH AND SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Bgaltented Sept. 9, 1884.

(No Mddel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. S. LEAYCRAFT.

PNEUMATIC DISPATCH .AND SIGNALING APPARATUS,

-...Patsn=ted Sep1;. 9, 1884.

AT'T E ST N. PETERS. Plwlo-Lllhognpher. Wnhmgton. D. C,

UNITED- STATES rrrcE.

PATENT PNEUMATIC DISPATCH AND SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,832, datedSeptember 9, 1884.

Application filed January 11, 1883. (No model.)

I0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. LEAYCRAFT, a citizen of the United States,residing at J ersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented an Improvement in Pneumatic Dispatch and SignalingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

There are two systems or methods of moving carriers or parcels inpneumatic tubes-one where the air is forced through the tubes by aforce-pump or other means placed at one end of the tube and the carrieror parcel is forced along in front of the air, and the other where anexhaust-pump is used at the end of the tube, sucking the air out of thetube, thereby creating a vacuum in front of the carrier or parcel, andcausing it to be driven through the tube by the current of air forced inat the other end by atmospheric pressure. In both these systems it isnecessary to place valves in the circuit of the tube at the places whereit is desired to insert or remove the carriers. In what is known as theforce system-that is, where a current of airis forced through the tubes,pushing the carrier before it-the valves at the various receiving anddelivery stations are kept closed over the entrance to the tube at thoseplaces. When the current is cut off, these valves open. They aregenerally arranged so as to open against the inner side of the tube. Ifnow the air-current is again suddenly admitted, these valves will closewith a noise, which is conveyed through the entire tube, said tubeacting similarly to a speaking trumpet or tube. In theother or exhaustsystem the valves at the stations are closed during the passage of thecurrent, and, being generally arranged to open outward when the currentis stopped, fall open, and close with a noise when the suction of theair in the tube is again commenced.

The invention consists in the combination, with a circuit ofconductingpipes and with automatic delivery-valves adapted to be closedby the direct action of air-pressure, of manual valves by which thecurrent can be cut off at will by an operator at either station, theshutting and opening of which manual valves serve to interrupt andreestablish the current of air, causing the automatic delivery-valves toopen and shut with an audible concussion, which is used for signalingfrom one station to another.

The drawings represent one form of shutoff valve which caube used for myimproved method of signaling.

In the drawings, Figure I represents a sectional view of my improvedvalve; Fig. II, another sectional view of the same in the line x x ofFig. I. Fig. III represents a plan of the same. FigJIV is an elevationto illustrate the operation of the invention, showing a common form ofblowing-engine, a part of the main pneumatic tube connecting therewith,a branch tube connecting with the main tube, and two of the receivingand delivering stations, with dotted lines indicating the'circuit bywhich they are connected, each of these stations being provided withautomatic dischargevalves and conducting-tubes, such as are shown anddescribed in my patent of June 13, 1876.

Q represents a portion of the main tube of a pneumatic system orapparatus; R, a branch pipe connecting therewith, and O a blowingengine,which in the present illustration is represented as operating by exhaustor suction to produce a current through the several tubes, as indicatedby the arrows. \Vith the branch tube R the portion A of the valve systemis directly connected, and with this the delivery branch B, having adischargevalve, V, connects through the air-chamber or connecting tube0.

In employing the apparatus as a pneumatictube cash system in retailstores, the tube A and its accessories may constitute the cashiersinstrument, and a similar tube, A, branch tube 13, and air-chamber 0 oneof the counter instruments, the latter being furnished with an.air-lock, T, as described in my previous patent, already referred to,for introducing the carriers to the return-tube.

D D represent valves placed in the tubes A and A, preferably of an ovalshape, and tightly closing said tubes when in an inclined position. ThisvalveD or D is hinged or pivoted upon a rod, (2 or d, in the center ofsaid tube A or A, and is'connected by the rod E, hinged at that side ofsaid valve nearest the tube B or B, to the plunger 1 or P by means ofthe hinge connections or pivots e and c. This plunger P or I works in asleeve, S, placed upon an air-chamber, G, immediately over the.eenter ofthe main tube A, and is provided in said sleeve with spiral spring 8.

The mode of operation is as follows: WVhen it is desired to signalthrough the pneumatic tube A, the operator presses upon the top of theplunger, forcing it downward, and by means of the rod E and itshinge-connections e and e closes the valve D, thus interrupting thecurrent of air passing through the tube A, and hence causing the valvesat the exit of the tube or tubes to open. The operator, by lifting hishand, permits the plunger to resume its normal position by the recoil ofthe spring, thus opening the valve D and allowing the current of air topass through the main tube, which in turn closes the valves at the exitof the tubes with a check or noise. By alternately pressing and freeingthe plunger 1 ac cording to a prearranged system a complete code ofsignaling may be worked.

It will be understood that at the cashiers instrument the depression ofthe plunger P, by shutting off connection with the main tube Q, willpermit the discharge-valves V V to drop open at both stations. Thepressure of the plunger 1 at the counter instrument does not affect thedischarge-valve V at the cashiers instrument, but causes thedischargevalve V at the said counter instrument to drop open, and theclosing of this makes a sound clearly audible through the pipe B,leading from the cashiers instrument, and through its open end or mouthB So long as both valves D D stand open the air-current entering at theopen mouth B will pass completely around the circuit as indicated by thearrows, and through the branch B into the main pipe Q. A carrierinserted at the open mouth B of the cashiers instrument will bedelivered at the counter instrument through the branch pipe B and valveV, and when inserted through the air-lock T of the counter instrument itwill be transported to the cashier s instrument and there deliveredthrough the branch pipe B and discharge-valve V.

Another advantage to be derived from the introduction of a valve capableof being opened and shut at will is the clearing the tube ofobstructions, small particles of dirt,

and such like matter which might accidentally be lodged therein. Suchobstructions are to be found, if anywhere, around the joints of thevalves and the edges of the openings in the tubes. If new the current ofair is suddenly shut off by means of a valve, the air still in the tubecontinues momentarily to move toward the valve by its acquired momentum,but, meeting the closed valve, rebounds from it, loosening by itsbackward motion the particles and obstructions lodged in the tube, andwhen the current is again admitted it carries with. it to the mouth ofthe tube these loosened obstructions.

When the air-current is shut off, as above described, the tube becomeswell adapted for use as a speaking-tube.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

1. A pneumatic dispatch-circuit provided at the stations with deliverybranch pipes and automatic delivery-valves, and with manual valves atthe respective stations actuating one or more of the automatic valvesthrough the medium of the air-current in the circuit, substantially asset forth. I

2. The combination, with a pneumatic sys- 75 tem having automaticdelivery-valves, of a valve pivoted in the circuit-tube of said system,operated by a plunger hinged thereto, and having means for automaticallyopening said valve.

3. A signaling apparatus consisting of a pneumatic circuit havingautomatic deliveryvalves constituting sounders and manual valves, thesuccessive opening and closing of which actuate the said automaticvalves through the medium of the pneumatic current, producing signals,as herein described. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my handthis 30th day of December, 1882.

E. S. LEAYORAFT.

In presence of- CHARLES G. (Jon, B. T. VAN BOSKEROK.

